Oldham Birth Centre: Nurturing Families

Oldham Birth Centre – A Place to Want to Labour!

Oldham, in Greater Manchester, UK, has created the most stunning, supportive and effective birth centre which is family-centred and woman friendly. Designed to nurture women and birth, creating a safe, positive and caring space for the whole family – including other children, who can be present at the birth of their sibling.

Designed to support the physiology of birth from the ground up, the Birth Centre rooms do not centre around an obstetric bed. Instead, they feature slings, balls, mats, Softbirth couches, adjustable lighting and the stunning Aquabirths birth pool, with a large family bed available for parents and baby to rest in after their little one is born.

The Oldham Birth Centre’s philosophy of care is key to the success of this midwife-led maternity unit. Midwives are trained in hypnobirthing techniques, aromatherapy, acupuncture and using water to support positive, safe, physiological birth. Minimising adrenaline is key to maximising oxytocin, and maximising oxytocin is key to birth progressing well, so the whole room is designed to be calm and to help everyone to relax. An aromatherapy diffuser by the door greets the birthing family as they arrive, and the scents in the air, the dimmed lights offset by coloured bubble lamps and the Aquabirths birth pool gives a sense of walking into a spa.

Oldham Birth Centre Wall Painting

Midwives describe seeing women sitting in a chair and looking around, and visibly relaxing. A kitchen is available for all to use, so birth partners can help themselves to drinks, and they can make their own snacks. Midwives make it quite clear that this space is for them to use, which is an important part of helping everyone to relax and continue to reduce any adrenaline levels.

The Oldham Birth Centre is not an extension of the labour ward, but instead is designed as a birth centre for the families of the city. While there are strict criteria for straightforward access to the unit, if a woman wants to birth there she can attend a Birth Options Clinic where their choice of place of birth is discussed, and the woman will be supported by the midwives.

The unit itself is nothing without its midwives, and the midwives at Oldham are hand picked for their inbuilt nurturing nature – not a trait which can be taught. Diane watches the student midwives who show an interest in physiological birth and support women’s choices. Those who wish to become part of the community/birth centre team are encouraged to apply.

Oldham Birth Centre is not unique, but it is unusual and it is beautiful. The women and families of Greater Manchester are extremely lucky to have this wonderful facility with its fabulous midwives.
The unit has a video on You Tube which showcases the birth pool and other facilities: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wOHqJfLhGg